Dominion Suspends Ekati Mining Operations

RAPAPORT... Dominion Diamond Mines has put all operations at its Ekati mine in Canada on hold indefinitely in an effort to protect workers from the coronavirus pandemic.

The miner has suspended operations at the Northwest Territories site because of the area’s remote location and the large amount of air travel necessary for workers and support staff to get to the mine, it said last week. None of the company’s employees have tested positive for the virus, the company added.

Dominion will keep a small care-and-maintenance crew at the site during the shutdown to maintain the mine, it noted. The miner does not currently have an end date for the closure, but said it would keep the mine shut until the pandemic was “under control.”

“Dominion has long been committed to the health, safety and well-being of its employees and to establishing strong, lasting and respectful relationships with the people and communities with whom it works,” the miner added. The measure would “safeguard…employees and the communities…from the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic,” it noted.